African American Civil War Memorial

Your Guide

The African American Civil War Memorial honors the service of 208,943 soldiers during the Civil War, including 7,000 white officers under whom they served. The site is located at the north entrance to the U Street Metro Station and is across the street from the African American Civil War Museum. The site design has the traditional flavor of other Washington, D.C. memorials located on and around the National Mall. The memorial was designed by architect Edward Dunson, landscape architect Paul Devrouax, and sculptor Ed Hamilton.

A Fantastic First View

The site is located at the north entry and exit to the U Street Metro Station, which affords a fantastic first view of the memorial when ascending the escalators from the Metro Station.

Image: Glenn LaRue Smith

The Memorial Reveals Itself

The plaza area, sculpture, and roll call of names along the curved granite walls open fully upon exiting the Metro Station or walking down U Street.

Image: Glenn LaRue Smith

Pronounced Plantings

A stand of Crape myrtle trees and border plantings surround the U Street and Vermont Street corner entry to the site, providing a pronounced setting on this urban corner.

Image: Glenn LaRue Smith

A Comfortable Pedestrian Pathway

The Crape myrtle trees and the granite curbs create a comfortable pedestrian pathway and spatial separation from the main memorial plaza.

Image: Glenn LaRue Smith

Low Granite Sign

The marker for the African American Civil War Memorial is prominently displayed at the corner of U and Vermont streets. The sign is a low granite form that signals the main entrance to the site and related to the interior granite walls within the memorial.

Image: Glenn LaRue Smith

Spirit of Freedom

The memorial sculpture, Spirit of Freedom, was designed by sculptor Ed Hamilton and is the physical anchor and heart of the memorial.

Image: Glenn LaRue Smith

Powerful Imagery

A close-up of the sculpture indicates the powerful imagery incorporated within the bronze art piece.

Image: Glenn LaRue Smith

Etchings in the Walls

The names of African American Civil War soldiers are etched on stainless steel panels set into curved granite walls. The lighted bollards, located at the end of each curved granite wall, provides evening illumination and security.

Image: Glenn LaRue Smith

Neighborhood History

Historic markers are located around the memorial highlighting history of the site as well as the adjacent neighborhood. These markers are also located throughout the neighborhoods and along U Street.

Image: Glenn LaRue Smith

African American Civil War Museum

The African American Civil War Museum is conveniently located across Vermont Street from the memorial site in a renovated school building.